to ask about kitchen islands?

[magicalmadmadamim]

we are just over halfway through a kitchen extension, its not going to be huge but it will be the biggest kitchen i have ever had, only ever had galley kitchens before.
originally i was thinking of just putting a table there as this would be where we eat during the colder months but soo many people are harping on about islands and it just seems to be the done thing these days.
we wont be short of worktops so is a kitchen island, even a small one, worth it?

I have an island and I love it.

But….. I do think a table would have been better. It’s too high for mum, so we don’t tend to use it for Christmas dinner and when she’s here.

No, if you don’t need the work space then have your table. A table to eat at is a much better bet.

I wouldn’t. I think they are now a bit dated and a table served the purpose just as well.

I don’t particularly hate them, but I wouldnt put one in.

A table is more versatile and inclusive than an island.

If you were short on counter space I would say island, but table in your circumstances.

I prefer a table and went against an island. I think they look beautiful in show homes but I know my family and it would just become an after school dumping ground and stress me out. We went for a floor to ceiling pantry instead plus table in the space.

I don't like kitchen islands. I had ours taken out and put a table and chairs there. It's far more flexible and gives good preparation space. It's far more friendly - people sit around a kitchen table, the island had to have those high stools in a row. It's been a good decision for us.

I love our island - we agonized over every detail: sink/hob/both/neither, what items are to be stored and how, space for a radio, plug points, seating arrangement, what the seating would be near, what it would face etc, worktops.
We use it all the time.

ETA: great for entertaining large groups/parties use it as a buffet area etc.

see this would be us too!
think i will stick with the table :)

We also push the table over and dc roller blade - much to the flooring guy’s horror 😂😬

Good call 👍

I love my island, however we have a table as well. If you only have room for one and enough worktops I'd choose table. We use the island for breakfast and lunch but its nice to sit around a proper table for an evening meal. I wouldn't want Christmas dinner at the island.

I'm not a fan of them. They look nice enough but they seem to be magnets for clutter, and sitting at an island rather than a table to eat doesn't appeal to me. Personally, if you have enough workspace without one I'd go for a table instead.

No!! Islands are only useful if you are short of worktop space. Otherwise have a table which you can sit at on normal chairs rather than perching on those stools, and move out of the way or extend when necessary. Islands are a pain.

We have seating around the corner of the island so 2x along the short end and 2x adjacent at the long end. IYSWIM.

Re: PPs who mentioned kitchen table - we have that, too. If it was one of the other then I would probably go for a table but I don’t think I could go back to only having one or the other now.

Thanks for your replies, maybe they are a bit overrated!
The way people talk about islands like its the pinnacle of kitchen success though! i dont get it myself.

Breakfast bar?

Love our island. It houses the hob so means I face everyone as I cook. We have a table too though.

I hate islands. It makes me think that you're serving people like a barmaid. A table seems more equitable

We have both, I like our kitchen island for hanging out whilst cooking etc , but we eat dinner at the table. Do you have a dining table anywhere else ?

We have had this set up while renovating where everything is in one room and we currently have a breakfast bar where our boys can sit and have breakfast but i cant stand it! that's probably more down to us being confined in one room though.
cant wait to be able to shut myself away again! im definitely not a 'social' cook.

we aren't in the uk so there is a summer kitchen/dining area also where a larger table will be .

I love our island. However, I also have a table. If I only had space for one, I’d go for the table. But my island has been a lovely addition as it’s extra seating and it means I can prep stuff when guests are here and face out into the room etc. it’s been a good thing socially and it does look pretty.

We have an island and a table, I would have prioritised the table for sure. We only chose an island because it went well with the kitchen aesthetic and we had the space, plus its additional storage and worktop space. I have an irrational hatred of breakfast bars!

Our island is used day in day out, we'd massively miss it. We do have a large dining table as well, but this gets sat at more. It has loads of storage too.

If it was going to make space an issue I wouldn't.

I love a table. I can sit on a normal chair to chop veg if I like. I can roll pastry on a lower surface than the kitchen worktop, which is often more comfortable (I am short).

I think islands started out in bigger kitchens that had room for both, and have been co-opted into smaller and smaller spaces where they work less well. Like the trend for a huge living-kitchen-diner - great if you also have space for a separate living room, not so great if it's your entire downstairs and you're juggling teens, tweens practicing violin and your own work calls.